Today's News

Editor’s note: This article is being reprinted with the permission of The Free Lance-Star.

By Keith Epps
The Free Lance-Star

A Stafford County, Va., jury deliberated more than eight hours Wednesday without deciding whether FBI Special Agent Arthur Gonzales was justified when he killed his estranged wife last year at their home in North Stafford.

RIO RANCHO — Gov. Susana Martinez signed a $6 billion state budget on Tuesday, but she eliminated pay raises for judges, district attorneys and appointed government workers.

Martinez cut spending about $27 million with line-item vetoes, including $2.4 million that lawmakers had provided for 8 percent salary increases for judges and district attorneys and about 3 percent raises for workers in appointed government positions.

The race for Mora County Sheriff will be the most crowded, with five candidates. They are: Greg M. Laumbach, Donaciano Trujillo, Americk Padilla, Eugene Martin Garcia and Robert J. Torres. All are registered Democrats.

Not seeking the post is current sheriff Amos Espinoza, who is serving out the remainder of former sheriff Thomas Garza’s term. Garza resigned last year as part of a plea agreement.

Carole Silon, the co-director of the Las Vegas Peace and Justice Center who made audiences laugh with her recurring portrayal of “Mayor Nanita” in the Nat Gold Players “Over the Edge” productions, died on March 7. She was 76.

She had been battling colo-rectal and lung cancer since June 2012, according to Pat Leahan, a close friend and the other director of the Peace and Justice Center.

Friday
A slight chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then scattered rain showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. North wind 5-15 mph, becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected. A chance of rain and snow showers before midnight, then a slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy at night, with a low around 27. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.